Title: Application of optimisation algorithms and multibody dynamics to ground vehicle suspension design

Authors: Yuping He, John McPhee

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada. ' Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, N2L3G1, Canada

Abstract: A systematic method is proposed for automating the design synthesis of ground vehicle suspensions. This method combines optimisation algorithms and numerical multibody dynamics software and considers ISO 2631 standard requirements on ride quality. The proposed method is tested and evaluated by optimising three ground vehicle models. It is recommended that stochastic global search algorithms be used with numerical multibody dynamics software in the initial design optimisation, whereas gradient-based algorithms should be used in the fine stage of fine-tuning the parameters. Results show that compared with suspension stiffness and damping coefficients or inertial property parameters, geometric parameters have a more significant effect on the ride quality.

Keywords: automated design synthesis; genetic algorithms; GAs; sequential quadratic programming; SQP; simplex algorithms; multibody dynamics; vehicle suspensions; ISO 2631; quality standards; heavy vehicles; design optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2007.013260

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2007 Vol.14 No.2, pp.158 - 192

Published online: 14 Apr 2007 *

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